Pinterest

We know that today’s consumers are social. In fact, 62% of adults worldwide now use social media. And social networking is the most popular online activity, with 22% of time online spent on channels like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

To help take advantage of this behavior, our new home listing sites NewHomeSource.com and MoveNewHomes.com incorporate a variety of social features that allow visitors to share homes and communities throughout their networks of friends and family.

For starters, at the top of any site page, you will see a social sharing bar that allows users to share the  home or community through their social network of choice. So, when shoppers find a home they love or a community they are considering, they can simply click a button and share it within their network.

And our latest social addition is a “Pin It” button seen on any image shown in home or community galleries. Visitors can  “pin” their favorite images to Pinterest – now the 3rd largest social network after Facebook and Twitter.

These social sharing features amplify your reach throughout the social world. Each time a visitor to NewHomeSource.com  or MoveNewHomes.com shares a home on Facebook or pins an image to a board on Pinterest, it links back directly to your home or community listing on our site. These social sharing features give your homes additional online exposure and generate additional interest in your properties.

If you have any questions about social sharing on BDX sites or would like more information about listing your homes, please email info@thebdx.com.

By BDX Guest Blogger, Carol Morgan, mRELEVANCE

Are you Pinning? If not, you should be.

Pinterest is currently the third most popular social media site after Twitter and Facebook. The majority of Pinterest users are women. Since women influence the majority of home buying decisions, your building company should be there. If you are an architect, remodeler or even a kitchen and bath supplier, Pinterest is a great tool for your social marketing.

Pinterest is an online site that lets users create and share “Pinboards,” similar to bulletin boards or scrapbooks. Users Pin photographs, renderings and even videos that they like from across the web to their Boards.

Each Pin links backs to the original source page. When other Pinterest users re-Pin your Pin, the link back to your site persists. This viral sharing of photos and video is why Pinterest has the ability — if your Pins are popular and re-Pinned — to drive significant amounts of free traffic back to your website. At its core, Pinterest appeals to our instinctual visual nature. It also allows users to connect, explore and learn as they collect and share their favorite images.

Builders have an amazing online marketing and branding opportunity to “Pin” photos and video of their new homes, communities, amenities, custom design options and more. In addition, you may want to create Boards for images other than your own. For builders, related Boards might include interior design ideas, home products, recipes, crafts or local info and attractions.

While these unrelated pins may seem like a waste of time, your page will begin drawing a wider range of potential customers – someone who was initially attracted by a photo with a great decorating idea, who stays and falls in love with your homes.

By offering photos from other sources, your page will be seen as more credible. Keep in mind that your other Pins should match your brand and offering.  For example, if you build entry level homes, it might be confusing if your Boards include high-end homes and appointments. Also, make sure to review Pinterest’s terms and conditions (especially as they relate to copyrights) before starting to Pin another company’s images.

Pinterest is a compelling visual form of social media that is revolutionizing the way we view social media platforms and the way companies are using the Internet to market themselves. If your business is looking to create awareness and online traffic, it’s a powerful new tool to use.

Carol Flammer is managing partner of Marketing RELEVANCE, LLC, a Marketing, Communication, Interactive agency with offices in Atlanta and Chicago. She is the author of “Social Media for Home Builders 2.0” published by BuilderBooks.